Buz celebrates Chikoko’s nomination for People’s Choice Award at ANSA

THE Basketball Union of Zimbabwe (Buz) is celebrating the inclusion of Zimbabwe’s national basketball captain, Vitalis Chikoko, among the nominees for the People’s Choice award at the upcoming Annual National Sports Awards (ANSA).

This year’s ANSA event, scheduled for March 30 at Cresta Lodge in Msasa, will be held under the theme ‘Setting the Gold Standard,’ with a series of innovations aimed at enhancing the ceremony’s prestige.

Among these is the debut of the People’s Choice award, which will recognise the achievements of 15 athletes across 12 different sports disciplines. Chikoko, who is based in France, is up against a strong field of athletes, including Paige Van Der Westhuizen (swimming), Sasha Chimedza (tennis), Tapiwanashe Makarawu (athletics), Tapiwa Mafura (rugby), Benjamin Lock (tennis), Kellis Ndlovu (cricket), Isaac Mpofu (athletics), Scott Vincent (golf), Felistus Kwangwa (netball), Temba Gorimbo (mixed martial arts), Chido Maenzanise (strongman) and Kudakwashe Chiwandire (boxing).

Buz president Joe Mujuru expressed his happiness over Chikoko’s nomination, noting the significance of this recognition for both the athlete and the sport of basketball in Zimbabwe.

“We are thrilled to see Chikoko’s incredible achievements being recognised at national level. His nomination for the People’s Choice award is a testament to his hard work and dedication to the sport. His success in France is an inspiration to many young basketball players in Zimbabwe and across the continent,” said Mujuru.
Chikoko’s rise in the French basketball league has been nothing short of remarkable.

He led his team, Dijon, to victory in the Coupe de France 2024, securing the trophy with an impressive 83-70 win over Strasbourg.
The towering 2.08m athlete also earned the title of Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the second year in a row, cementing his status as one of the top players in the French Jeep Elite ProA league.

Chikoko’s journey to success has been a long one, starting with his move to Europe in 2011 to play for BG Goettingen in Germany.
Since then, he has played for several top European clubs, including TBB Trier, Reggio Emilia, and FC Bayern Munich before settling in France in 2016. His consistent performances, including three successive All-Star nominations, have solidified his reputation as one of the best players in his league.
-@innocentskizoe